71-year-old Former Marine Running Across Country on an ElliptiGO to Raise Money for Injured Marines

January 26th, 2012

By PRWEB | January 26, 2012

ElliptiGO Press ReleaseRick Hermelin to trek more than 3,000 miles from South Carolina to San Diego to support the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and raise awareness about the benefits of physical fitness.

ElliptiGO, Inc. (http://www.elliptigo.com), creators of the world’s first elliptical bike, today announced that 71-year-old former Marine Rick Hermelin will attempt to run on an ElliptiGO from the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina to the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego, California in exactly 100 days. He will start his 3,000-mile trek on March 23rd, 2012 and intends to finish on June 30th, 2012. Hermelin will be self-supported for the crossing and hopes to raise at least $10,000 for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (http://www.semperfifund.org), a non-profit set up to provide immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Rick served in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963 as an Aviation Communications Technician, but it wasn’t until later in life that he developed his love of running. Over the course of 35 years, from 1976 to 2011, he completed 100 marathons, 100 half-marathons, and 100 10K races. Having reached this incredible milestone in June 2011, he started looking for a new challenge.

“I had thought about running across the U.S. before,” said Hermelin, “but I wasn’t sure if my body would hold up for the entire journey. Plus, it would take me about 6 months.” That’s when one of his clients suggested he try out the ElliptiGO as an alternative.

Designed by runners, the ElliptiGO is the first outdoor, low-impact, fitness device specifically designed to emulate the running motion. It allows athletes of all levels to get a high-intensity workout without experiencing the repetitive impact of running. Healthy athletes and injured athletes alike have found it the most effective way to get an outdoor running experience without the usual pounding on their bodies.

In keeping with his “100” theme, Rick put together a plan to run across the country on the ElliptiGO in 100 days to raise awareness about the benefits of being physically fit, something he learned in the Marines. That’s when he approached ElliptiGO co-founder and co-president, Bryan Pate with his idea. “I was really impressed that Rick wanted to take on this adventure,” Pate said. “As a fellow former Marine, I admired his courage in attempting this crossing alone and appreciated that he wanted to help out his fellow Marines.”

Together, Bryan and Rick identified the Semper Fi Fund as the ideal organization to incorporate into the event. “The Marine Corps had such a positive impact on my life and supporting the Semper Fi Fund seemed like a great way to honor that influence,” said Hermelin. “To finish this 3,000-mile trek will be a great personal accomplishment, but raising money for the Semper Fi Fund and helping out other Marines is what will make my effort meaningful.”

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that directs urgently needed resources to post 9-11 Marines and sailors, as well as members of the Army, Air Force or Coast Guard who serve in support of Marine forces. The Semper Fi Fund provides relief for financial needs that arise during hospitalization and recovery, as well as assistance for those with perpetuating needs. Since establishing this fund in 2004, they have issued more than 38,000 grants totaling more than $57 million to thousands of Marines and their families.

If successful, Rick will become the first person to ride an ElliptiGO across the U.S. “Rick inspires our entire elliptical biking community, and we’re excited to help him attempt this feat,” said Pate. “We’ve had many athletes accomplish significant feats on an ElliptiGO – dozens of customers have completed 100-mile century rides, ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes rode an ElliptiGO from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2010, and one customer rode from Canada to Mexico, but Rick will be the first person to go coast to coast across the country.”

Anyone interested in Rick’s trek can follow him on his 100 Days for the Corps blog: http://www.100daysforthecorps.wordpress.com. Donations to the Semper Fi Fund in Rick’s name can be made on his fundraising page: http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise?fcid=178860.

For more information about ElliptiGO and its products, visit http://www.elliptigo.com or follow them on Twitter @elliptigo and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/elliptigo.